Libyan border guards save migrants dumped in desert

By Nathan Morley

The world recently saw pictures of Libyan police officers rescuing dozens of migrants who, they said, were dumped by the Tunisian authorities in the desert on the border between the two countries, and left without water, food or shelter.

Video showed groups of at least 80 dehydrated young men and a few women - all exhausted, sitting on the sand, trying to take shelter in temperatures beyond 40 degrees.

Their plight occurred after clashes claimed the life of a Tunisian man on 3 July after hundreds of African migrants were driven out of Sfax, a known staging point for illegal emigration to the EU.

According to NGOs, they were led by Tunisian police and abandoned to their fate in a hostile area near Libya to the east and Algeria to the west.

After the discovery, Libyan border guards gave them water and drove them to a shelter.

EU - Tunisia deal to stem migration

Ironically, the incident occurred as the EU finalized a deal with Tunisia to boost trade relations and stem migrant departures from the country.

Under the agreement, Brussels is to provide cash to Tunis in exchange for stronger border controls. 

The EU will supply Tunisia with €100 million to develop border management, search and rescue, and other initiatives to tackle the migration issue.